Health
problems Bells Palsy
What
is Bells Palsy?
Bell's palsy is a form of facial paralysis resulting from damage to the
7th (facial) cranial nerve. This nerve disorder afflicts approximately
40,000 Americans each year. It can strike almost anyone at any age;
however, it disproportionately attacks pregnant women and people who have
diabetes, influenza, a cold, or some other upper respiratory ailment. In
addition to one-sided facial paralysis with possible inability to close
the eye, symptoms of Bell's palsy may include pain, tearing, drooling,
hypersensitivity to sound in the affected ear, and impairment of taste.
Researchers in Japan recently identified the common cold sore virus,
herpes simplex, as the likely cause of most cases of Bell's palsy.
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Prognosis
The prognosis for Bell's palsy is generally very good. With or without
treatment, most patients begin to get significantly better within 2 weeks,
and about 80 percent recover completely within 3 months. For some,
however, the symptoms may last longer. In a few cases, the symptoms may
never completely disappear.
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What
research is being done?
The NINDS supports an extensive research program of basic studies to
increase understanding of how the nervous system works. A major goal of
this research is to develop methods for repairing damaged nerves and
restoring full use and strength to injured areas
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Symptoms
pain behind or in front of the ear
may precede weakness of facial muscles by 1-2 days
impairment of taste
sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis) on the affected side
headache
face feels stiff
face feels pulled to one side
difficulty with eating and drinking
change in facial appearance
-
facial droop
-
difficulty with facial expressions, grimacing
facial paralysis of one side of the face
-
difficulty closing one eye
-
difficulty with fine facial movements
drooling
Note: Symptoms begin suddenly and hit their peak usually within 48
hours. Seventy-five percent of cases are preceded by upper respiratory
infection.
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Conventional
treatments
In many cases, no treatment is necessary. The goal of treatment is to
relieve the symptoms.
Corticosteroids may reduce swelling and relieve pressure on the facial
nerve for some persons. Corticosteroids must be given early to be most
effective; preferably within 24 hours of the onset of paralysis.
Lubricating eye drops or eye ointments may be recommended to protect the
eye if it cannot be closed completely. The eye may need to be patched
during sleep to protect it.
Surgical procedures to decompress the facial nerve have not been shown to
routinely benefit people with Bell's palsy.
Source: - National Institutes of Health
Research
Peripheral facial paralysis & Acupuncture
Eighty
cases of peripheral facial paralysis were treated by acupuncture with vibrating
shallow insertion. The total effective rate was 98.75% and cure rate 88.75%.
There was no significant difference in therapeutic effect as compared with the
conventional electroacupuncture method (P > 0.5), suggesting that shallow
puncture by vibratings can also yield satisfactory therapeutic results.
J Tradit Chin Med 1999 Mar;19(1):44-7. Zang J, Second People's Hospital,
Kaifeng, Henan
Province.
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